Coal-breaking machine



p 10, 1929. B. NORTON 1,728,075

COAL BREAKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 15. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 10,NORTON I COAL BREAKING MACHINIlf Filed Oct. 15, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2Fig.3.

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COAL BREAKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 15, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 [Wt 5770A6mm:

3) W f AMA [KS Patented Sept. 10, 1929.

UNITED STATES BERTRAM NORTON, OF CLAVERLEY, ENGLAND.

COAL-BREAKING MACHINE.

Application filed October 15, 1927, Serial No. 226,465, and in GreatBritain June 29, 1927.

This invention relates to machines for breaking coal or other friablematerial and in particular to machines of the class furnished with pickswhich are reciprocated in a vertical direction to strike and break upthe coal as it is carried into position upon a horizontal conveyor.

It is recognized that by the use of machines of this type, a smallerpercentage of fine or very small particles is obtained than withcrushing machines of the roller type but the present invention aims atenabling the coal to be broken with the production of even less small orwaste material than heretofore. It is found that the more direct theblow delivered by the picks, the more efi'ective is the breaking of thecoal and the less the production of small or'fine particles. It is aprincipal object of the present invention to ensure that the picks shallstrike the coal in a vertical direction so that the blows shall bedirect and not glancing.

A further object of the invention is to move the conveyor intermittentlyso that the coal is stationary when the picks strike it and the blow inconsequence is more effective. Accordingly a mechanism is provided bywhich the conveyor is operatively connected with the mechanism by whichthe picks are reciprocated vertically, so that the conveyor isstationary as the pick descends and moves only during the upward strokeof the pick. A machine of this type is usually provided with sets ofpicks arranged at opposite ends of the oscillating side frames, usuallyemployed so that the working stroke of the one set corresponds with theupward stroke of the other set. The coal is first struck by a set ofpreliminary picks which break the larger pieces and then by a set ofsizing picks which reduce the pieces to approximately the desired size.The conveyor is preferably kept stationary during the working stroke ofthe sizing picks. It is however a further object of the invention toarrange that the two series of picks shall operate in unison andaccordingly the invention also comprises a machine on which the twoseries of picks are mounted on the same side of the pivot points of theoscillating side frames. The same result however maybe obtained bymounting the picks in cross-heads arranged to be reciprocated invertical guides.

With the improved machine since a verttically moving pick is strikingstationary coal, there is a risk of the picks being damaged or brokenthrough striking any very hard substance. It is another object of thepresent invention to reduce this risk of damage to a minimum andaccordingly another feature of the invention comprises a resilientlymounted supported placed beneath the conveyor beneath the point ofimpact ofthe picks. Yet another object of the present invention is toarrange the mechanism sothat during the effective part of the stroke themovement of the picks is as nearly "as possible tangential to the arc ofthe circle which the pick-heads describe.

Yet again the present invention comprises a construction of machine inwhich the parallel linkage mechanism usually employed to produce thevertical motion of the picks is simplified and improved, the picks beingcarried by cross-heads rigidly connected to members pivoted about theends of the oscillating side'frames usually employed.

These and other objects ofthe invention are attained by theconstructions of machine which are illustrated by way of-example in theaccompanying drawings andby which the invention will be clearlyunderstood.

In these drawings, Figure 1 is "a side e'levation and Figure 2 an endview of the machine shown in Figure 1, parts being shown in section,Figure 3 is a view to an enlarged scale of a detail modification, andFigures 4, 5, 6 and 7 are side elevations of modified forms of machines.

Referring first to Figures land 2, the coal which is to be broken downfrom about 16 inch lumps to lumps of 2 inches or even less is dischargeddown a chute 1 on 'to a horizontal endless conveyor 2 which passesaround two rotating sprockets 3 and 3 fixed on shafts 4 and 4 A frame 5is arranged to straddle the conveyor 2 and two shafts 6 and 7 are fixedin this frame/5, the shaft 7 being placed vertically above the shaft 6and both shafts 6 and 7 extending across and above the conveyor 2. Twolarge levers 8 and 9 are arranged one at each end to oscillate about theshaft 6 and two smaller levers 10 and 11 are similarly arranged tooscillate about the shaft 7. Pivot pins 12 and 13 are fixed in the endsof these levers and vertical links 14 and 15 are pivoted about thesepivot pins 12 and 13. These vertical links 14 and 15 have crossheads 16and 17 formed integrally with them. The cross-heads 16 and 17 havespacing plates 18 attached to them and the sizing and preliminary picks19 and 20 respectively are secured to the cross-heads 16 and 17 by thesespacing plates-18. The levers 8, 9, 10 and 11 ,-and the vertical links14 and 15 form together a" parallel motion linkage, such that,thevertical links 14 and 15 are constrained to remain vertical and so thepicks 19 and 20 have a substantially vertical motion, when the levers 8,9, 10 and 11 are oscillated while the two sides of the linkage areconstrained to move together :by-the cross-heads 16 and 17. Theoscillation is efi'ectedby connecting the levers 8 through cranks'22 andconnecting rods 23 to a shaft 21 carrying a fly-wheel 24 and driven fromany suitable'source of power such as a motor 25.

The conveyor 2 is driven intermittently by a mechanism connected to thelever 8. This mechanism comprises a long connecting rod 26 pivoted tothe end of the lever 8 adjoining-the cross-head 16, the-other endbeing'connected-to an .arm 27 which is mounted to rock freely about theshaft 4*. A drum ordisc 28 is fixed to the shaft 4 and is driven instep-by-step fashion in an vanti-clockwise direction by a silent pawl 29carried on the arm-27. When the lever 8 is oscillated, on the upwardstroke of the sizing picks -19, thearm 27 is drawn upwards andthe silentpawl 29 grips the drum 28 effecting a partial rotation of the shaft 4 inan anti clockwise direction, and thus moving the conveyor 2 one steptowards the left in the drawing. On the other hand, during the downwardor working stroke of the sizing picks 19, the farm 27 drops to itslowest position and the pawl 29 rides freely over the drum 28, so thatthe conveyor 2 is stationary during theworking strokes. The stroke ofthepicks 19 is usually constant, but it is desirable to provide for avariable stroke of the arm 27. so as to .render it possible to adjustthe length of each step of movement of the conveyor 2*in' accordancewith the size into which the coal is to be broken. This adjustment isprovided for by slotting the end of the arm 27. I

In order to minimize the risk of damage .to the picks orother part ofthe machine when unusually hard material is encountered, twocross-supports or anvils 30 and 31 are mounted under the conveyorimmediately beneath the sizing picks 19 and preliminary picks 20respectively. These anvils 30 and 31 are supported by rods 33 passingvertically through them at each end, and also passing through horizontalgirders 34 forming part of the frame Strong helical springs 35 areinserted between the girders 34 and washers 36 placed beneath the headsof the rods 33, so that the an vils 30 and 31 are held up against theundersides of the girders 3 but can yield downwards under very heavyblows of the picks 19 and 20, the springs 35 being compressed. Since theendless conveyor 2 will not in general be extensible, provision is madefor horizontal movement of the shaft 3, when the conveyor 2 and anvils30 or 31 are forced out of their normal position. This shaft 3 isaccordingly mounted in slidable bearings 37 sliding in a horizontalguide way 38 against the action of a compression spring 39.

Various modifications may be made within the scope of the inventionwhich is not limited to the precise constructions shown. For example, asshown in Figure 3, the vertical links 1 and 15 may be in the form ofplates or strips 40 bent over the pivot pins 13 and rigidly secured tothem, the cross-heads 16 and 17 then being bolted to these bent plates40. The cross-heads in this case are pivotally mounted about thecross-bars 12. Again, with tne construction shown in Figures 1 and 2,the vertical links 14 and 15 may be pivoted about either one of thepairs of pivot pins 12 and 13 and rigidly fixed to the other.

Again as shown diagrammatically in Figure 4, the oscillating levers 8,9, 10 and 11 instead of being straight may be arranged so that the twoarms on either of the pivot shafts 6 and 7 make on their upper ends anangle of less than 180 with one another. The purpose of using these bentlevers is that the parts of these levers to which respectively thecross-heads 16 and 17 are attached can lie substantially horizontallyduringthe part of the stroke when the picks are actually striking thecoal. It will be realized that the effective part of the stroke isdifferent with the two sets of picks, since the depth of the coalbedupon the conveyor approaching the preliminary picks is greater than thatapproaching the sizing picks. The design may be such that each half ofthe lever arm is horizontal and therefore at right angles to the path ofmovement of the picks at the midpoint of the effective part of thestroke.

The result is that the crosshead is sub eCted to the minimum horizontalmovement during the time that the picks are engaged with the coal, sothat the amount of fine product is still further reduced.

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In the form of machine shown in Figure both the pick heads 16 and 17 aremounted upon the same side of the pivots of the oscillating frame, sothat both the series of picks 19 and 20 descend while the conveyor 2 isstationary. As will be clearly seen both the oscillating levers or beams8 and are pivotally mounted at 41 and 42 in an extension 43 of theframework 5 of the machine. The preliminary picks are of course,arranged further from the pivots 41 and 42, than the sizing picks 19, sothat the picks 20 have the longer stroke.

Figure 6 shows a machine in which both the sizing picks l9 andreliminary picks 20 are mounted in a singe cross-head 44 arranged toslide in vertical guides 45, the reciprocation being obtained through aconnecting rod 23 and crank 22 as before.

Figure 7 shows another construction of machine in which both sets ofpicks 19 and 20 are mounted in a single cross-head 44 disposedlongitudinally of the conveyor 2, and arranged to slide in vertical ides45. In this case however the reciprocatlon of the cross-head 44 is notobtained directly from a crank and connecting rod but through the mediumof'a parallel linkage mechanism 8, l0 and 15 pivoted, as in theconstruction shown in Figure 5, at 41 and 42 in an extension 43 of theframe 5. The beam 8 is oscillated by means of a connectin rod 23 andcrank 22 driven from any suitable source of power.

Various other modifications may also be made, for instance theintermittent motion of the conveyor may be obtained in a variety ofways. For example, instead of operating the arm 27 direct from the lever8, the rocking movement of the arm may be taken from any otherconvenient moving part of the machine. Instead of the silent pawl 29, afree-wheel roller may be employed or an ordinary pawl and toothedratchet wheel may be fitted. Further the adjustment of the stroke of thearm 27 may be provided for in any convenient way.

Finally it will be realized that the invention is not limited tomachines having two sets of picks, and that one set may be reciprocatedindependently of another set by separately operating mechanism, ifdesired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. A machine for breaking coal upon aconveyor, comprising in combination a horizontal endless conveyor, aparallel motion linkage mounted above said conveyor, means foroscillating said linkage in a vertical plane, a pair of pick-headsmounted on said linkage so as to be subject to substantially verticalreciprocation, a series of preliminary picks mounted in one of saidheads, and a series of sizing picks mounted in the other of said heads,and means in operative connection with said linkage for moving saidconveyor during the downward movement of said sizing picks in adirection to bring the coal to be broken below said prehminary picks andsubsequently below said sizing picks during the upward stroke of saidsizing picks, but for maintaining said conveyor stationary during theworking stroke of said sizing picks.

2. A machine for breaking coal upon a conveyor, comprising a pair ofspaced parallel shafts, sprocket wheels mounted thereon, an endlessconveyor passing over and driven by said sprocket wheels, a series ofpicks adapted to be reciprocated at right angles to said conveyor tostrike the coal upon said conveyor, and a yiel-dingly-held bearing forone of said shafts enabling the supporting surface of said conveyor toyield under the impacts of said picks.

3. A machine for breaking coal upon a conveyor, comprising incombination a pair of spaced parallel shafts, sprocket wheels mountedthereon, a horizontal endless conveyor passing over and driven by saidsprocket wheels, a series of picks adapted to be reciprocated verticallyto strike the coal upon saidconveyor, a resiliently mounted supportdisposed beneath the supporting surface of said conveyor at a positionbelow said picks, and a yieldingly-held bearing for one of said conveyorshafts, enabling said shaft to move inwards towards the other of saidpair of shafts when said support and said conveyor yield under theimpact of said picks, said resiliently supported anvil and yieldinglyheld bearing cooperating to permit unbreakable matter to pass throughsaid machine without injuring the same.

4. A machine for breaking coal upon a conveyor, comprising incombination a pair of spaced parallel shafts, sprocket wheels mountedthereon, a horizontal endless conveyor passing over and driven by saidsprocket wheels, a parallel motion linkage mounted above said conveyor,means for imparting an oscillatory movement to said linkage, a head forpreliminary picks and a head for sizing picks mounted on said linkageand thereby reciprocated substantially vertically towards and from thesupporting surface of said conveyor, a pair of transverse anvil membersdisposed below said supporting surface at positions below the respectivepick-heads, and spring supports carrying each of said anvil members attheir opposite ends.

5. A machine for breaking coal upon a conveyor, comprising incombination an endless conveyor, a framework straddling said conveyor, aparallel motion linkage pivoted in said framework, means for impartingan oscillatory motion to said linkage about its pivots, a pair ofpick-heads mounted lOO on said linkage both on the same side ofpick-head remote from said pivots, and a;

series of sizing picks mounted in the nearer of said pick-heads to saidpivots.

6. A machine for breaking coal upon a conveyor, comprising incombination a horizontal endless conveyor, a pair of parallel motionlinkages spaced laterally of the conveyor and each disposed above theconveyor to lie in a vertical plane, a driving shaft for said conveyor,mechanical connections between said'shaft and said linkages for causingsaid linkages to oscillate as said shaft rotates, a pick head extendingtransversely of said conveyor and connecting together said linkages anda plurality of picks mounted in said pick head.

7. A machine for breaking coal upon a conveyor, comprising incombination a horizontal endless conveyor, a pair of parallel motionlinkages spaced laterally of the conveyor and each disposed above theconveyor to lie in a vertical plane, each of said linkages comprising apair of beams rocking about fixed pivots and carrying short pivot pinsfixed in said beams and vertical links connecting corresponding pivotpins of the respective pairs of beams and providing bearings for saidpins, a driving shaft for said conveyor, mechanical connections betweensaid shaft and said linkages for causing said linkages to oscillate assaid shaft rotates, a pick head extending transversely of said conveyorand connecting together said linkages and a plurality of picks mountedin said pick head.

8. A machine for breaking coal upon a conveyor, comprising incombination a horizontal endless conveyor, a parallel motion linkagemounted above said conveyor, said linkage having double-armed rockingbeams with the two arms of each beam inclined to each other, means foroscillating said linkage in a vertical plane, a pair of pick-headsmounted respectively on the arms of said linkage so as to be subject tosubstantially vertical reciprocation, a series of preliminary picksmounted in one of said heads, and a series of sizing picks mounted inthe other of said heads, and means in operative connection with saidlinkage for moving said conveyor during the downward movement of saidsizing picks in a direction to bring the coal to be broken below saidpreliminary picks and subsequently below said sizing picks during theupward stroke of said sizing picks, but for maintaining said conveyorstationary during the working stroke of said sizing picks.

.9. A machine for breaking coal. upon a conveyor, :comprising' incombination an endless conveyor so supported as to .be capable ofsubstantially equal local depression at anypoint on its supportingsurface, a series of picks adapted .to be reciprocated towards and awayfrom said conveyor, driving means for said conveyor. operativelyconnected withsaidseries of picks, and a resilient support independentof said driving means and ofsaid conveyor disposed under said conveyorat a position beneath said picks, said support being entirelyresiliently mounted.

10. A machine for breakin coal upon a conveyor, comprising incombination a conveyor, a framework straddling said conveyor, anoscillating frame pivoted in said framework, means for imparting anoscillating motion to said frame about its pivotal axis, a pair ofpickheads both mounted on said oscillating frame on thesame side of itspivotal axis, and adapted to be reciprocated at right anglesto'thesupporting surface of said conveyor, a series of preliminary picksmounted in the pick head remote from said pivotal axis, and a. series ofsizing picks mounted in the nearer of said pick heads tosaid pivotalaxis.

11. A machine for breaking coal upon a conveyor, comprising incombination a conveyor, aframework straddling said conveyor, anoscillating frame pivoted in said framework, means for imparting anoscillating motion to said frame'about its pivotal axis, a series ofpreliminary picks and a series of sizing picks, both of said series ofpicks being mounted on said oscillating frame on the same side of itspivotal axis so as to be lowered simultaneously to strike the coalupon'said conveyor, and means for transmitting'an endwise movement tosaid conveyor when said picks are out of engagement with the coal uponsaid conveyor, but for maintaining said conveyor stationary during thetime that said picks are in engagement with the coal upon said conveyor.

12. A machine for breaking coal upon a conveyor, comprising incombination a con- .veyor, a framework straddling said conveyor, anoscillating frame pivoted in said framework, means for imparting anoscillating motion to said frame about its pivotal axis, a'pair of pickheads both mounted on said oscillating frame on the same side of itspivotal axis, and adapted to be reciprocated atright angles to thesupporting surface of said conveyor, a series of preliminary picksmounted in the pick head remote from said pivotal axis and a series ofsizing picks mounted in the nearer of said pick heads to said pivotalaxis, the distance between the last row'of said preliminary picks andthe first row of said sizing picks being greater than that between twoadjacent rows of said preliminary picks, both distances being measuredin the direction of movement of said conveyor.

13. A coal breaking machine comprising an endless conveyor, a pluralityof pick members adapted to be reciprocated toward and away from saidconveyor, a plurality of independent resiliently mounted anvilssupporting said conveyor and positioned under said pick members, saidanvil construction adapted to permit unbreakable material to passthrough said machine without injuring the same.

14. A coal breaking machine comprising an endless conveyor, a pluralityof pick members adapted to be reciprocated toward and away from saidconveyor, a plurality of independent resiliently mounted anvilssupporting said conveyor and positioned under said pick members, saidconveyor being mounted on a shaft yieldingly supported, said anvils andconveyor being adapted to cooperate to permit unbreakable material topass through said machine.

15. A machine for breaking coal upon a conveyor, comprising incombination a conveyor, a framework straddling said conveyor, anoscillatin frame pivoted in said framework, means or imparting anoscillating motion to said frame about its pivotal axis, a pair of pickheads both mounted on said oscillating frame on the same side of itspivotal axis, and adapted to be reciprocated. at right angles to thesupporting surface of said conveyor, a series of preliminary picksmounted in the pick head remote from said pivotal axis, and a series ofsizing picks mounted in the nearer of said pick heads to said pivotalaxis, a plurality of resiliently supported anvils positioned directlyunder said pick heads to permit unbreakable material to pass throughsaid machine without injuring the same.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 5th day of October,A. D.

BERTRAM NORTON.

